The United States, the world’s largest donor, suspended nearly all foreign aid on Friday, with exceptions only for emergency food supplies and military assistance to Israel and Egypt.
Days after President Donald Trump assumed office, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued an internal memo pledging an “America First” approach to significantly limit international aid.
“No new funds shall be obligated for new awards or extensions of existing awards until each proposed new award or extension has been reviewed and approved,” said the memo to staff seen by AFP.
The sweeping order appears to impact a wide range of programs, from development aid to military support—including assistance to Ukraine, which received billions in weapons under former President Joe Biden to help counter the Russian invasion. The directive also puts a hold, for at least several months, on US funding for PEPFAR, the anti-HIV/AIDS program that provides life-saving antiretroviral drugs to developing countries, primarily in Africa.
Established in 2003 by President George W. Bush, PEPFAR is credited with saving approximately 26 million lives and has traditionally enjoyed strong bipartisan support in Washington.
However, the memo explicitly allows exceptions for military aid to Israel—whose already substantial US arms packages have grown further since the Gaza war—and Egypt, which has received significant US defense funding since its 1979 peace treaty with Israel. Rubio also made an exception for US contributions to emergency food aid, which has been critical in responding to global crises, including in Sudan and Syria.
Opposition lawmakers from the Democratic Party argued that over 20 million people depend on PEPFAR for medication, while 63 million benefit from US-funded anti-malaria initiatives such as mosquito nets.
“For years, Republicans in Congress have decried what they see as a lack of U.S. credibility vis-a-vis countries like China, Russia, and Iran,” said Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Relations Committee, and Representative Lois Frankel.
“Now our credibility is on the line, and it appears we will cut and run from American commitments to our partners around the world,” they wrote in a letter.
……..
Note : To submit Press Releases, Statements, and Advert Inquiries for publication on Waffi blog (website) or Television 📺, please use the following contact details: You can send an email to info@waffitv.com or reach us via Whatsapp at 07068286500